Genocide Watch's Open Letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concerning crimes against humanity committed by the Ethiopian go

Genocide Watch's Open Letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concerning crimes against humanity committed by the Ethiopian government 23 March 2009

Ethiopia

Genocide Watch's Open Letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concerning crimes against humanity committed by the Ethiopian government
23 March 2009 (click to read)

Genocide Warning

In September 2008, Genocide Watch declared a Genocide Warning regarding the war that was being waged against small ethnic minority called Burji in a town of Hagre Mariam by an ethnic Oromo group called Guji. Since then the Guji Oromo have continued to wage protracted war against Burji in various localities, especially in towns and villages surrounding the city of Soyama, which is 60 Km west of the city of Hagremariam. Over the course of the last several months there have been heavy loss of lives and damage to Guji properties including destruction of crops and farm equipment.

Photo: OromiaTimes Courtsey

In January 2009, there were reports of heavy fighting on three different fronts, namely Nadale/ Chuluse front and Gara and Tisho vicinities. News from Hagremariam stated that Guji Oromo warriers were advancing towards Soyama in great numbers. According to Genocide Watch sources, Guji/Oromo attacks on Buji began on January 22, 2009. The situation is and continues to be dire, and urgent action must be taken to avert further attacks.

Updates

1 October 2008 “Account for Missing Rendition Victims,” by Human Rights Watch

1 July 2008 “Government Prepares Assault on Civil Society,” by Human Rights Watch

17 June 2008 “Beyond the Fragile Peace Between Ethiopia and Eritrea: Averting New War,” by International Crisis Group

17 June 2008 “History Can Be Cruel for Eritrea, Ethiopia,” by Mark L. Schneider, allAfrica.com

13 June 2008 “Group Says Satellite Images Prove Rights Abuses in Ethiopia,” by Andrew C. Revkin, The New York Times

12 June 2008 “Army Commits Executions, Torture, and Rape in Ogaden,” by Human Rights Watch

7 June 2008 “Unelected Governor of Gambella, Accused of Deep Involvement inCrimes Against Humanity, has been Denied a Visa to Enter Canada,” by Anuak Justice Council

5 June 2008 “Gambellan Governor’s Visit Brings International Publicity to Genocide Despite Attempts to Evict Press,” by Anuak Justice Council

30 May 2008 “Un-elected Gambella Governor: The Choice is Yours--Exploitation or Apology?,” Anuak Justice Council

27 May 2008 “Ex-Dictator Sentenced to Death,” by Reuters

6 May 2008 “Ethiopian Troops Reportedly Commit War Crimes in Somalia,” by M. Brandon Maggiore, Impunity Watch

5 May 2008 “EPRDF Attempt to use Ethnic Isolation With “Incentives” to Silence Gambellans Fails,” by Anuak Justice Council

15 April 2008 “The Movement for New Ethiopia Begins with a Worldwide Peaceful March for Freedom and Justice on May 15, 2008!” by Anuak Justice Council

24 March 2008 “The Ogaden: a forgotten war draining a forgotten people,” by Simon Tisdall, The Guardian

17 March 2008 “ONLF, the African Fighters for Ogaden´s Liberation and Democracy,” by Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis, American Chronicle

14 January 2007 “Why Mugabe Rejects an Appeal for Extradition of Mengistu,” by Fred Bridgland

12 March 2008 “Mr. Obang Metho Addresses Law Students and Faculty at the College of Law, University of Saskatchewan,” by Obang Metho, Anuak Justice Council

11 March 2008 “Centering Human Rights in U.S. Policy on Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea,” by Lynn Fredriksson, Amnesty International

11 January 2007 Speech by Obang Metho, Director of International Advocacy, for the Anuak Justice Council (AJC). Martin Luther King, Jr. 4th Annual Human Rights Symposium

1 January 2007 “Somali, Ethiopian Troops Take Islamist Stronghold,” by The Associated Press

1 January 2007 “Somali Islamic Force Flees Last Stronghold,” by Stephanie McCrummen

31 December 2006 “Somalia Says Islamists Protecting al Qaeda Suspects,” by The Associated Press

31 December 2006 “Further Combat Looms in Somalia,” by Stephanie McCrummen

30 December 2006 “Somali Prime Minister Promises Peace Soon,” by Stephanie McCrummen

29 December 2006 “Somali Prime Minister Arrives to Cheers in Mogadishu,” by The Associated Press

28 December 2006 “Somalia OKs Humanitarian Flights,” by The Associated Press

28 December 2006 “Ethiopian Troops Take Key Town In Somalia,” by Stephanie McCrummen

28 December 2006 “Mogadishu Falls to Ethiopian-Backed Government Troops,” by Reuters

28 December 2006 “Islamic Movement Troops Abandon Mogadishu,” by Craig Timberg

27 December 2006 “Somali Clan Leaders May Help Fight Islamists,” by The Associated Press

26 December 2006 “Islamic Forces Retreat in Somalia,” by The Associated Press

27 December 2006 “Ethiopians Closing In On Capital of Somalia: Islamic Militias Vow Stiff Defense As War Intensifies,” by Stephanie McCrummen

26 December 2006 “Ethiopia Steps Up Attacks on Somalia: Planes Strike Airport; Refugees Flee to Kenya,” by Stephanie McCrummen and William Branigin

25 December 2006 “Ethiopia Attacks Somalian Airports,” by Reuters

24 December 2006 “Ethiopian Jets Bomb Somalia Areas,” by Reuters

22 December 2006 “Ethiopia Warns It’s Losing Patience as Somalis Clash,” by Hassan Yare

20 December 2006 “Many in Ethiopia See Premier's Talk of War As Ploy to Tighten Grip,” by Stephanie McCrummen

19 December 2006 “Gambella, Ethiopia Update,” by Genocide Watch

14 December 2006 “Regional War May Loom in Africa: Strife Between Ethiopia, Islamic Group in Somalia Intensifies,” by Stephanie McCrummen

12 December 2006 “Ethiopian Ex-Dictator Mengistu Convicted of Genocide,” by Alexander Joe

6 December 2006 “Verdict Due Next Week in Marathon Genocide Trial of Ethiopian Ex-Dictator,” by Agence France-Press

4 August 2006 “Ethiopia Attacking Ogaden Rebels,” by BBC News

July 2006 “Massacres in Southern Ethiopia,” by Genocide Watch

1 July 2006 “Ethiopia’s Anywaa Say Regular Army, Militias Commit Massacre,” by Anywaa Survival Organisation

21 June 2006 “Ethiopian Army Steps-Up Operations Against Anuak Civilians,” by Genocide Watch

7 June 2006 “Ethiopian Government Plans Forced Repatriation of Anuak Refugees,” by Genocide Watch

26 April 2006 “Ethiopia's Human Rights Conditions Remain Harsh, says UN,” by Reuters

12 April 2006 “Ethiopian army moving against Anuak in South Sudan,” by Sudan Tribune

27 March 2006 Testimony of Mr. Obang Metho. Anuak Justice Council to the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, Washington, D.C.

24 March 2006 “Almost Two Million Need Assistance in Drought-Stricken Region,” by UN News Service

23 March 2006 “Court Drops Charges Against Five Voice of America Journalists,” by the Committee to Protect Journalists


22 March 2006 “Ethiopia Drops Treason, Genocide Charges Against VOA Journalists, 13 Others,” by VOA News

February 2006 "Livelihoods and Vulnerabilities Study, Gambella Region of Ethiopia," by UNICEF

18 December 2005 “A Dream Defiled: The Betrayal of Ethiopia's Democracy,” by Micha Odenheimer

13 December 2005 "Anniversary of the Genocide of teh Anuak: Two Years Later and Still No Justice," by the Anuak Justice Council

14 November 2005 “Ethiopia's Capital, Once Promising, Finds Itself in Crisis,” by Marc Lacey

4 November 2005 "Armed Group Attacks Gambella Town Police Station," Anuak Justice Council Press Release

3 November 2005 “Ethiopian Protesters Killed as East African Clashes Spread,” by Marc Lacey

2 November 2005 “Ethiopia Clashes Kill 23, Special Forces in Capital,” by Reuters

4 October 2005 "Master Planner of the Anuak Genocide is the New Governor of Gambella: Omot Obang Olom Is Rewarded for His Loyalty to the EPRDF," Anuak Justice Council

13 June 2005 “Complaint of Crimes against Humanity Committed by the Ethiopian Government against the Anuak people,” by Obang Metho Letter to ICC



29 April 2005 "Ethiopia: Human Rights should be on the Election Agenda," An Amnesty International Report.


April 2005 "Ethiopia Elections," An Amnesty International Report

24 March 2005 “Minnesota Churches Rally Behind Anuak Victims in Ethiopia -- and Here,” by Doug McGill on the McGill Report


24 March 2005 "Ethiopia - Crimes Against Humanity in Gambella," a Human Rights Watch Report

26 January 2005 “Chief Government Collaborator in Anuak Massacre Nominated for Governor of Gambella State,” by Genocide Watch


29 October 2004 “Ethiopians Go to Congress to Fight Autocratic Regime,” by Donal Brown

17 December 2004 "Amnesty International Appeal: Omot Ojullu Abella, Gambella, Ethiopia," by Amnesty International


16 December 2004 “Anuak to Sue Ethiopia for Human Rights Crimes,” by Doug McGill

13 December 2004 "Operation Sunny Mountain: State Terror Against Anuak," by Genocide Watch / Survivors Rights International report

2 August 2004 “Anuak in Minnesota fear for homeland,” By Doug McGill on the McGill Report


4 July 2004 “U.S. Pledges More Food Aid,” by Reuters


1 July 2004 “NPR Story on Anuak people & Gambella, Ethiopia,” by Keith Harmon Snow


15 June 2004 “A River Washes Away Ethiopia's Tensions, for a Moment,” by Marc Lacey


20 March 2004 “Parliament Votes for Independent Probe Into Violence in Gambella,” by UN Integrated Regional Information Networks


3 March 2004 “Ethiopia to Shift a Million People from Drought-hit Areas,” by Jeevan Vasagar

28 February 2004 “Immediate Steps to Stop Massacres in Southwestern Ethiopia,” by Genocide Watch and Survivors Rights International

25 February 2004 “Today is the Day of Killing Anuaks: Crimes against Humanity, Acts of Genocide and Ongoing Atrocities Against the Anuak People of Southwestern Ethiopia,” by Genocide Watch and Survivors’ Rights International


23 February 2004 “US Government Wants Gambella Violence Investigated,” by UN Integrated Regional Information Networks


18 February 2004 “Survivor’s Rights International & Genocide Watch Call for Immediate Steps to Stop Massacres in Southwestern Ethiopia,” by Genocide Watch & Survivor’s Rights International

18 February 2004 “Call for Immediate Steps to Stop Massacres in Southwestern Ethiopia,” by Survivors Rights International and Genocide Watch


12 February 2004 “Nearly 200 Killed In Clashes,” by Reuters

28 January 2004 “How an African Genocide First Came to Light in Minnesota,” by Doug McGill in The McGill Report


23 January 2004 “The Anuak of Ethiopia,” by Genocide Watch

8 January 2004 “GENOCIDE WATCH: THE ANUAK OF ETHIOPIA,” by Genocide Watch

5 January 2004 "A Ferocious Attack Committed In Gambella Region," a Report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Council

1 January 2004 “On a Bloody Saturday, Ethiopia Chose Genocide,” by Doug McGill in The McGill Report


22 December 2003 “U.S. Anuak Refugees Fear 400 Dead in Ethiopian Massacre,” by Doug McGill in The McGill Report


16 June 2003 “U.N. Officials Draw Attention to Starvation in Ethiopia,” by Reuters

6 May 2003 “Ethiopia's Genocide of the Anuak Tribe Broadens After December 13 Massacre,” by Doug McGill

14 January 2003 “A Lost African Tribe of the Midwest,” by Douglas McGill

1 January 2003 “On Bloody Saturday, Ethiopia Chose Genocide,” by Doug McGill

31 October 2001 “Oil Development In Ethiopia: A Threat to the Anuak of Gambela,” by Nyikaw Ochalla

31 December 1988 “Anuak Displacement and Ethiopian Resettlement,” by Cultural Survival Quarterly

31 December 1987 “Resettlement and Villagization - Tools of Militarization in SW Ethiopia,” by Steingraber, Sandra

30 September 1986 “Ethiopia's Policy of Genocide Against the Anuak of Gambella,” by Sandra Steingraber

30 June 1984 “The Anuak - A Threatened Culture,” by Cultural Survival Quarterly

31 July 1981 “Anuak Decimated by Ethiopian Government,” by Cultural Survival Quarterly

Other Resources

Draft Charities and Societies Proclamation

Source